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    Twins Daily Roundtable: The Looming Mauer Decision

    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    Twins Daily Roundtable is a weekly series. As part of this series, a question will be posed to the site’s writers and they will respond in 200 words or less (Some writers don’t like to stick to this limit). This will give readers an opportunity to see multiple points of view and then add their own point of view in the comments section.

    Joe Mauer continues to climb the all-time Twins leaderboard as fans have seen him reach some impressive milestones over the last calendar year. Moving forward, there are plenty of questions about what next season will bring for Mr. Mauer. His massive contract extension expires at season’s end and there’s no telling how much longer Mauer will play.

    This week’s roundtable discussion question is: “What will Joe Mauer decide about next season?”

    Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

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    John Bonnes

    Joe Mauer will decide he wants to play, because he loves to compete. The Twins will decide they want him back, because there are not going to be a lot of top flight first-base-type sluggers available on the free agent market. Plus, the Twins weren't adept at getting on base this year (.314 OBP, 9th in the AL), so Mauer remains a good fit.

    However, I anticipate some drama, at least privately and probably publicly, around the two sides coming to an agreement. This will be the fourth significant negotiation between Mauer and the Twins: there was the draft negotiation, the long-term deal that bought out his initial free agent year, and the $23M-per-year long-term deal. In all three of those, Mauer never advertised that he was willing to take any kind of hometown discount and pushed the team to its limit. (It's almost, again, like he loves to compete.) So I expect him to ask for more guaranteed years and more guaranteed money than the Twins will expect, and I wouldn't be surprised if we hear rumors of him being courted by other teams, or that an agreement isn't reached until later in the offseason.

    But ultimately, I think a one-year deal or a team-friendly two-year deal will get done. That might be my heart overruling my head. Or maybe my head is assuming that hearts will hold sway over heads on both sides of the negotiation. Either way, I hope this goes the way of "heart."

    Seth Stohs

    Short answer: He'll do whatever he wants.

    Longer answer: If he wants to play, he'll be signed by the Twins for a 1-2 year deal. He could retire if he no longer enjoys it, but clearly, he's been healthy again the last couple of years and he still contributes to the Twins in multiple ways.

    Tom Froemming

    The deeper we get into the season without an announcement, the more I feel like Joe is going to play in 2019.

    The Mauers are going to be welcoming the third child into their family sometime around Thanksgiving, and I'm sure that's going to play a huge role in what Joe decides about his future. I believe him when he says he hasn't really thought about it or come to a conclusion yet, but I think there will be strong interest, from the Twins, in a reunion.

    It's impossible to know what's really going through his head, but I think if the Twins make any kind of honest effort to bring him back, as I expect they will, he'll be back.

    Ted Schwerzler

    I genuinely think that Joe returns to the Twins in 2019. I initially believed there was room for a 2- or 3-year deal, but think he'll sign a one-year pact this winter. If everything goes well, I could see him returning in 2020 as well. At the end of the day, he's an ideal leadoff hitter, and remains among the best defensive first basemen in all of baseball. The Twins should be doing what they can to push him into returning, and it'd be a good thing for them if he obliges.

    Cody Christie

    I’m not sure what to think after some of the decisions made by the front office this week. Falvey and Levine might decide they want to keep him around or they could decide to go in another direction. Mauer could find himself waffling through multiple emotions as well.

    Joe Mauer has the potential to be in the conversation of best Twins player of all-time. According to FanGraphs WAR, only Harmon Killebrew (59.3 fWAR) and Rod Carew (56.9 fWAR) have amassed more career value in a Twins uniform. Mauer might never catch those two or live up to the legend of Kirby Puckett but he’s still a once in a generation talent.

    I think Mauer’s competitive side wins out and we will see him back with the Twins next season. Like any player, I believe he wants to make the Hall of Fame and he will need to continue to put up numbers for multiple more seasons to pad his resume. That being said, I think he only plays for another season or two.

    SD Buhr

    I’ll make this short. I think Joe Mauer retires.

    I think the current front office will decide they want to move on from having Mauer as their primary first baseman, they will communicate that to him, and he will choose to retire rather than accept a reserve role.

    Is it what I would do? No. If I were Mauer, I’d have my agent shop me around for a regular spot with a potential contender, so I could get my ring. But, from all accounts, that’s not what Mauer is likely to do.

    But with a growing family, financial security and being at risk of further head injuries, I suspect that he will hang up the spikes, rather than accept a role where he’s watching as much as (or more than) playing.

    If you missed any of the most recent roundtable discussions, here are the links:

    Grading the Front Office

    Grading Molitor

    Closing Time

    Prospect Promotions

    Hall of Fame Impact

    View our top trade candidates list, up to nearly 70 names and updated regularly!

    View Trade Candidates
    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    Featured Comments

    DocBauer

    DocBauer 22,926

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    I'm not convinced he wants to come back. Age, previous injuries, nother injury this season, another baby on the way, his brother choosing to walk away from the grind, financially set, I think there is a real chance he decides it's time.

     

    Further, and this is not to bash him as I think he still offers value, what other team is a legitimate fit for him?

     

    Mauer's 2017 slash line: .276/ .347/ .374/ .721

    Mauer's last 30 days: .271/ .312/ .390/ .702

     

    I don't have the numbers available, but I'm pretty darn sure his numbers thjs season were much better prior to his "concussion like" injury. If there was someway to predict we'd see the 2017 Mauer or pre-injury Mauer of 2018, he has real value for his defense, AVG, and OB.

     

    NOT saying he will or won't play, or should or shouldn't be signed. And the team could absolutely afford a 1 year deal with zero financial risk. And anywhere close to his 2017 and early 2018 numbers he'd be a FINE stop-gap for 2019. But I'm really starting to believe it's time to look at other options.

    Riverbrian

    Riverbrian 43,201

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Can you picture the Twins signing Mauer and adding a 1B/DH?

     

    IMO, part of the problem with signing Mauer is they WON'T upgrade. They'll go with Mauer at 1b, and be done with it. And we'll see Ehire Adrianza play games at 1B again, with Robbie Grossman your DH.

     

    That is also my fear. 

     

    I love Joe... I'm building him a statue but we can't hand cuff him to the new Morrison again and say this year is going to be different. 

     

     

    Number3

    Number3 616

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Yeah, I'm sure once Mauer is gone, this team will turn right around.

    I don't believe I said anything about the team turning right around. I do believe that the team needs a clean slate and a clean frame of mind to be be able to turn around. The Mauer era is over and hopefully the Molitor era is over too.

    diehardtwinsfan

    diehardtwinsfan 14,830

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    I love me some Rooker and Weil, but calling them back up plans next year is way more opportunistic then I would be willing to go. Remember last year when just about everybody wanted Dozier traded because Gordon was ready? and he was further along then either of them. 

    I hope both are rookie of the year candidates next year, but I will not plan on it.

     

    Fall back plans are not plans that both would be ROY candidates next year. I should also note that I forgot about Raley. He's going to be in AAA as well I would suspect.

     

    You can still sign a 4A type in Rochester as well if you'd want since both Rooker and Weil do play some OF, and Raley is primarily an OF. There's room there to do that at Rochester.

     

    As I noted before, I'd have no problems with Mauer as a 1B/3B bench role, but you're not going to get a guy like Cruz on the bench. Fall back plans are precisely that... guys who won't be starting elsewhere. The hope with a fall back plan is that you have someone competent. I guess Mauer could be that if that's what you're arguing. We have 3 decent hitting prospects sitting in AAA next season. That's acceptable depth if you go into the season with Austin and Cruz at 1B/DH and a guy like Mauer on the bench. I'm more worried about depth in CF personally as well as finding a guy like Escobar who can act as a 5th starter in the infield. 

    diehardtwinsfan

    diehardtwinsfan 14,830

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    I don't believe I said anything about the team turning right around. I do believe that the team needs a clean slate and a clean frame of mind to be be able to turn around. The Mauer era is over and hopefully the Molitor era is over too.

     

     

    I really don't think they are too far away from turning around. I think 2018 was a lesson learned for both Sano and Buxton. I agree that their future and the team's future are tightly interwoven, but I doubt you see that kind of ineffectiveness again. I'd say they could turn around easily by getting a decent stop gap in CF, a guy like Escobar to play 2B until Gordon is ready, and guy that can mash at DH (added bonus if he can play the field somewhere). Most of the rest of the pieces are there, and you should see improvement from a lot of the younger guys. 

    jimmer

    jimmer 9,961

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

    I don't believe I said anything about the team turning right around. I do believe that the team needs a clean slate and a clean frame of mind to be be able to turn around. The Mauer era is over and hopefully the Molitor era is over too.

    no what you said is that Mauer has been a drag on this whole team for years.

     

    What this team needs is the ability to draft and develop MLB starting pitching and position players who don't poop the bed when they get to the majors assuming they ever make it to the majors. Especially those players we draft very high up. Our starting pitching has been a joke for years.

     

    That is what drags and keeps this team down. Mauer has nothing to do with that stuff. When someone better can take his spot, his spot will be taken. Problem is, seems most just feel any HR guy is better (and in SSS) while discarding defense, obp and ability to hit with RISP.

     

    Sure, there are better options than Mauer out there. Not sure we have them yet based on SSS from new players. Also not sure we will spend to get FA 1B that will significantly improve the position. We could put Sano there, but then we would need to replace his offense at 3B with a FA that will also cost a lot.

    Edited by jimmer
    Tomj14

    Tomj14 1,146

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Sano, Kepler, Garver, utility infielder are the backups.....Rooker and Weil are the hopeful backup plans. That doesn't work?

    Rooker, Wiel and Raley strike out too much for my liking.

     

    For next year I either give one of them the job and have a back up plan in place (and maybe that is the next one up in their case) or make them force my hand. I don't believe in the doing something half way. IMO

     

     

    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 57,015

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    Rooker, Wiel and Raley strike out too much for my liking.

     

    For next year I either give one of them the job and have a back up plan in place (and maybe that is the next one up in their case) or make them force my hand. I don't believe in the doing something half way. IMO

     

    Mauer is as half way as you can get......

     

    and Rooker, Weil and Raley are the plan (all in the minors) if Kepler, Austin, Sano, Garver can't do it.......maybe Astudillo if he's still around. Or Gimenez can play 1B, I'm sure.

    Edited by Mike Sixel
    jmlease1

    jmlease1 16,086

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Every pitch thrown by Matt Belisle, Tyler Kinley, David Hale. Every at bat by Chris Gimenez, Tommy Field, Gregorio Petit, Taylor Motter. These are things this FO CHOSE.


    Note, I didn’t include Phil Hughes, because I believe Pohlad had to sign off on his DFA.

     

    Every player you're mentioning here is a fringe roster guy. 

     

    Belisle is the only one where it's really a "this is a bad idea" and there's a real possibility that Molitor may have driven that one.

     

    Tyler Kinley? Flyer on a Rule 5 guy. Hardly a make or break move.

    David Hale? Again, they took a flyer on him and he was here for a cup of coffee.

    Gimenez? In a lost season what's the difference between Bobby Wilson & Chris Gimenez? The only reason either is here is because of Castro's knee injury.

    I assume you mean Johnny Field, and they took a flyer on a guy after selling at deadline. looks like he sucks, but he'd done a few things for TB this year and they took a shot.

    Gregorio Petit? a fringe player to fill in for injury/suspensions...and actually didn't do too bad! He got a sept callup. he'll finish the year with maybe 50 ABs. every team brings in guys like this as a veteran utility guy and you hope they can hold it down for a few weeks

    Taylor Motter? again, they took a flyer on a guy. He showed a little pop in seattle, showed nothing here and got cut. we're indicting the FO over 20 ABs?

     

    They've been moving a lot of guys in and out of the bottom edge of the 25 man looking for diamonds in the rough. I'm ok with that. Some of them are going to work (Jake Cave) others will look promising (Tyler Austin) more of them will be busts. But I'm not going to freak out over 6 guys who are going to get maybe 100 AB and 5 appearances between them.

     

    Belisle was and is a mistake. Hopefully they've learned from it and know that bringing back a guy just because he used to be here and the manager likes him isn't good enough.

     

    i'm still fine with bringing back mauer next year as long as the price tag is reasonable.

    Tomj14

    Tomj14 1,146

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Mauer is as half way as you can get......

     

    and Rooker, Weil and Raley are the plan (all in the minors) if Kepler, Austin, Sano, Garver can't do it.......maybe Astudillo if he's still around. Or Gimenez can play 1B, I'm sure.

    I can't see the Twins thinking Garver is in their plans for 1B, he has started 3 games there in two years and that was 2017.

    I am not saying he shouldn't, I am saying I don't think the Twins plan is for that.

    twins_89

    twins_89 1,834

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    As pointed out in last night’s game thread:

    2018
    Joe Mauer .273/.345./371
    Robbie Grossman .260/.350/.367

    Virtually identical.

    Is there also a “looming Robbie Grossman decision?”

     

    Without his Minnesota ties and history with the team would there even be a debate about bringing Mauer back. How attractive would a 36 year old 1B/DH coming off a season with an OPS in the low .700s actually be if he wasn't named Joe Mauer?

    Twins33

    Twins33 753

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    As pointed out in last night’s game thread:

    2018

    Joe Mauer .273/.345./371

    Robbie Grossman .260/.350/.367

    Virtually identical.

    Is there also a “looming Robbie Grossman decision?”

    I hope Grossman is already decided and the answer is "bye!"

     

    If I'm forced to have one or the other I'm picking Mauer every time. Makes no sense to have both when it's hard enough to just have one of them.

    Rosterman

    Rosterman 4,543

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Who's on first? If the Twins seriously want to consider Sano for 1st base, he should be playing there instead of Arianza or Gimenez or anyone not named Mauer. Of course, helps if Sano isn't injured.

     

    Salary is the Big Issue. Be interesting to see if he gets offers from other teams. If he doesn't, the Twins Way will be "how low will he go."

     

    Be interesting to see how he will fit into the organization longterm.

     

    It would be nice to have known if this would happen, though. The Fan Love would be great for his final games!

     

     

    D. Hocking

    D. Hocking 4,845

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Joe does not exactly love doing interviews, and this might mean nothing, but the fact he did this in-depth (for him) interview with Koskie (not to mention his statement to LaVelle) makes me think he is getting ready to say good bye.

     

    https://anchor.fm/linklete/episodes/Joe-Mauer--Minnesota-Twins-e264ri/Joe-Mauer-Minnesota-Twins-a57gk0?utm_content=buffer918e6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&sf92548376=1



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